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The Democratic Alliance has filed a motion in the National Assembly to have President Jacob Zuma impeached.
This follows a Constitutional Court judgment that Zuma violated the Constitution and his oath of office by failing to implement the remedial action recommended by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela regarding the upgrades to his home in Nkandla.
After the judgment was delivered, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said: “Zuma must go. We have already filed a motion with the National Assembly to have Zuma impeached. It is a damning judgment, and we have always maintained that Zuma must be removed. “It is a significant ruling for the people of this country. We have always maintained that President Zuma is unfit to lead this country.”
United Democratic Movement leader Bantubonke Holomisa, who was equally jubilant as a result of the ruling, said: “It is a damning judgment. It has [confirmed] fears that [Zuma] violated his oath of office. The onus is now for the ANC to recall Zuma peacefully. He has messed us up.
“Can we trust Zuma to preside over South Africa? We leave that to the ANC to decide. We have done a lot of work to get here. We are also happy that the powers of the Public Protector have been affirmed.
Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota said: “This judgment has saved our democracy. Any political party that has a majority must know that unless that majority is consistent with the Constitution, it is meaningless. As members of the National Assembly, we are supposed to act as one.
“I think that we must go back and meet with all the parties, including the ANC, and say to them can we get together and get rid of this guy because we can’t be led by somebody like this.”
Speaking to Stephen Grootes, host of the Midday Report on 702, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the ANC noted and respected the judgment.
“The Constitutional Court remains the guardian of the republic and remains the final arbiter, hence we welcome the judgment. We will study the report and comment in detail in due course.”
What is important, Kodwa said, was that the judgment called for action.
“We have to go sit down and reflect on what brought us where we are. What do we do when the judgment directs us to act in a particular way? The ANC will have to reflect in detail, not just as a response to the judgment, but for the protection of our democracy,” he said.
